What is a pain flare?
A pain or symptom flare is a temporary but noticeable worsening of your usual pain and/or symptoms (like fatigue, stiffness, or emotional distress) that feels more intense than what you typically deal with. Here’s how to know if what you’re experiencing might be a flare:
- It’s Really Disruptive: The pain or symptoms feel strong enough to interfere with things you normally do, like going to school, exercising, or hanging out with friends.
- It Lasts Longer Than Usual Pain Spikes: A flare can stick around for hours, days, or even weeks, and you’ll likely notice a clear start and end to it (though it might fade slowly or suddenly).
- It Affects More Than Just Pain: A flare can make moving harder, leave you feeling more anxious, sad, or frustrated, and make it tougher to handle everyday challenges.
- It Might Be Linked to a Trigger (But Not Always): Things like pushing yourself physically, feeling stressed, changes in the weather, or being sick can sometimes set off a flare—but they can also happen without a clear reason.
- It’s Bigger Than Usual Pain Changes: Flares are more intense and last longer than the usual ups and downs of your pain. They’re not just part of your daily pain shifts; they’re a bigger deal.”
